whinchat
Saxicola rubetra
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Muscicapidae
Genus
Saxicola
whinchat belongs to the family Muscicapidae, order Passeriformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The whinchat faces severe population declines across its range due to widespread habitat loss and degradation of traditional grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, including increased mowing frequency, pesticide use, and conversion of species-rich meadows to intensive farmland, has eliminated crucial breeding and foraging areas. Climate change further compounds these pressures by altering the timing of insect emergence and affecting the availability of suitable habitat.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Open grasslands, hay meadows, rough pastures, and moorland edges with scattered bushes, posts, or tall vegetation for perching. Breeds in extensively managed agricultural areas with low-intensity farming practices, particularly traditional hay meadows and species-rich grasslands between 200-2000m elevation.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The whinchat faces severe population declines across its range due to widespread habitat loss and degradation of traditional grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, including increased mowing frequency, pesticide use, and conversion of species-rich meadows to intensive farmland, has eliminated crucial breeding and foraging areas. Climate change further compounds these pressures by altering the timing of insect emergence and affecting the availability of suitable habitat.
Agricultural intensification and habitat conversion
Climate change affecting breeding timing and habitat suitability
Loss of traditional hay meadows and grassland management
Pesticide use reducing insect prey availability
Habitat fragmentation isolating breeding populations
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). whinchat (Saxicola rubetra). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/whinchat